Dookeran says conflicts are part of coalition politics: "They have to talk and sort it out".

File: Winston Dookeran "They have to talk and sort it out..."

Winston Dookeran believes that there will continue to be disagreements in the People's Partnership because that is the nature of coalition politics.

The former leader of the Congress of the People (COP) made the statement in an interview published in the Sunday Guardian. 

He did not wish to get involved in the Marlene Coudray matter that is causing stress within the partnership with COP Leader Prakash Ramadhar saying that the mayor of San Fernando must be fired and replaced by a nominee of the COP.

Ramadhar is on record as saying that Coudray's move from COP to the UNC is a violation the Fyzabad Declaration, which established the People's Partnership. Dookeran was leader of COP at the time and signed on behalf of his party.

That's not so, according to Dookeran. He told the Guardian, "There is a mix-up. The facts are the Fyzabad Declaration was done for the general elections. What happened weeks later (local government elections) was that there was no agreement; there was nothing in writing about who fight who or anything like that."

Dookeran added that in coalition politics conflicts will always arise and resolved. "They have to talk and sort it out; it is a natural thing," he said. 

The Finance Minister said while he understands that COP is upset over Coudray's decision to leave the party he does not think the matter is one to cause a breakup of the partnership. "I do not agree that a split should be allowed. It is two separate issues," he said.

With respect to the nomination for the mayor of San Fernando, Coudray has said COP did not recommend her for the post. Dookeran told the Guardian Ramadhar was in charge of those negotiations and as far as he recalls Coudray's name came up along with others.

However the President of the San Fernando Business Association told the Guardian it was her association that recommended to the UNC that Coudray be nominated to be mayor.

Daphne Bartlett told the paper she was the “first pick” for the San Fernando mayor but she had no interest in a political position and declined. 

"It is a fact the association recommended Ms Coudray. I was asked to be the mayor of San Fernando but I am not politically inclined and declined the offer. I was also asked to serve under the former PNM administration but I am into business so I declined," she said.

Bartlett said the UNC asked the association to make a recommendation and the association chose Coudray.

"The Government wanted someone who is able to work well with the association. I consulted with our executive and the people of San Fernando and they all came up with the name Marlene Coudray because she has been CEO of the corporation for many years. The COP recommended a doctor,” Bartlett explained.

The COP nominee was Dr Anirudh Mahabir. Dookeran confirmed that Mahabir's name was among others discussed for the mayor's position.